THE DROWSY CHAPERONE

I've got a new favourite musical. It opened last year on Broadway and is opening in London next month and I must see it!! I simply must see it. It's the story of a guy "The Man In The Chair" who lives what appears to be a solitary life. He finds escapism and passion when listening to records of his favourite musicals. He likes stereotypical musicals from the 1920s and his most favourite of all is The Drowsy Chaperone. The musical dots in and out of his commentary of the musical and the musical itself.

The Drowsy Chaperone concerns the fabulously named Janet Van De Graaf who is a star of stage and screen - originally played on Broadway by the equally fabulously named Sutton Foster. Janet is getting married, she's leaving her glamorous showbiz life which her producer is upset at because she's his big star. She wants to marry Robert Martin - a simple man. Throw in an aviatrix called Trix, two gangsters posing as pastry chefs, an absent minded host and of course the Drowsy Chaperone. Janet's Chaperone who gets tipsy and drowsy on champagne. The whole show is terribly terribly thrilling and oh so twenties but with a modern twist. I've seen a few numbers performed and am now obsessed with the soundtrack in the same I was with "Wicked".

The following clip is near the start when we're introduced to Janet Van De Graaf. It was performed at last year's Tony Awards and is just a taste of the show. And to top it off, Elaine Paige is taking on the role of The Drowsy Chaperone in the West End. Here, however, enjoy Sutton Foster as Janet......